Tibia support device for skier

ABSTRACT

A retaining strap encircles the leg of the skier and keeps the tibia in contact with a support surface in the form of a padded cast, which is fixed to a deformable component in the form of a leaf spring. The latter bears on the top of the boot, constituting a flexible connection to the front and a rigid connection to the sides. A cord allows the spring to be pretensioned towards the front. Straps tightened by securing buckles allow the deformable component to be kept fixed to the boot. By means of the invention, the cross-country skier is able to use walking boots ideal for climbing, while at the same time being able to ski downhill supported by the tibias.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a removable tibia support device for a skier,able to be fitted on the skier's boot and comprising a retaining strapencircling the skier's leg and keeping the tibia in contact with asupport surface in the form of a padded cast. Such a device is mainlydesigned for off-track ski walking, but can also be used for alpineskiing, cross-country skiing, telemarking, snowboarding and for anysituation requiring a support on the tibia.

STATE OF THE ART

Known cross-country ski boots are a trade-off between contradictoryqualities: rigidity for downhill runs and flexibility and lightness foruphill progression. The tibia support described in the document FR2870464 enables the skier to ski with walking boots, and comprises a skibinding associated with a rigid connection between the skier's leg andthe attachment system fixed to the ski enabling the inclination of thetibia to be adjusted. The presence of this rigid connection hamperssatisfactory operation of the frontal triggering and gives too rigid asupport to the tibia without any flexible spring effect.

The document CH 191261 refers to an apparatus for a beginner skiercomprising a connecting system with a spring inserted between a garterattachment surrounding the skier's leg, and an attachment elementsecuredly fixed to the ski in front of the binding. The aim sought foris to keep the skier's knee in the flexed state, but it does not enablethe user to ski by pressing on his or her tibia.

The document DE 2157724 makes mention of a ski binding associated with asupport device of the skier's leg, formed by a securing cord connectingthe skier's leg to an attachment point at the front of the ski. Such adevice does not enable the user to ski by pressing on his or her tibia.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a removable tibia supportdevice that can be fitted to a low boot, and that provides improvedholding of the skier's leg during downhill skiing.

The device according to the invention is characterized in that the castis fixed on a deformable part of small thickness pressing on the top ofthe boot to form a laterally rigid connection, while at the same timebeing flexible towards the front with a spring effect.

The skier can therefore use hiking boots able to accommodate crampons,which are inexpensive, light and ideally supple for uphill walking. Thedeformable part operates as a leaf of a leaf spring. The stiffness isparticularly suitable for downhill skiing.

According to an alternative embodiment, the deformable part is formed bya tab fitting snugly on the top of the boot and extending as acontinuation of the tibia:

Preferably, the deformable part is held on the top of the upper of theboot by at least one strap secured around the boot by a fast-onattachment.

Other technical features can be used either alone or in combination:

-   -   the deformable part is attached to a cord enabling the spring to        be pre-tensioned towards the front;    -   rubber strips can be stuck under the mobile part to protect the        latter from wear against the rings of the boot and to prevent it        from slipping;    -   the end of the deformable part is articulated around a pin        integrated in the boot;    -   the deformable part can be composed of elements that are able to        slide and to be secured by screws to enable length adjustment to        suit the height and boot size of the skier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from thefollowing description of particular embodiments of the invention givenfor non-restrictive example purposes only and represented in theappended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a schematic view of the tibia support device accordingto the invention with a leaf spring fitted on the top of the boot;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an identical view to FIG. 1 representing an alternativeembodiment in the form of a tab;

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of FIG. 1, with a pre-tensionedspring integrated in a ski boot;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a low-cut hiking boot 8 is wedged at the front in atoe piece AV and at the rear in a heel-piece AR of a ski binding. Boot 8is associated with a deformable part 5 of small thickness in the form ofa leaf spring which presses on the top of boot 8 forming a flexible linktowards the front, while at the same time being laterally rigid.

The top end of the flexible part 5 is attached to a self-adhesive strapencircling the skier's leg and keeping the tibia in contact with asupport surface in the form of a foam-padded cast 1. The bottom end ofpart 5 is provided with two pairs of wings 20 secured to the top of theboot by at least one strap secured around the boot by a fast-onattachment 6.

The leaf spring forming the flexible part 5 presents a preset stiffnesssuitable for skiing.

Flexible part 5 is kept pressing on the top of boot 8 by tightening thebuckles 6. Rubber strips can be stuck under flexible part 5 to preventany slipping effect and to prevent premature wearing in contact with thebuckles of the boot.

A cord 4 is stretched between a drilled insert 3 and a hole 9 of part 5.Cord 4 presents a smaller length than that of part 5 and forms an arcwith the latter.

In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 3, the end of cord 4 is fixed by asnaphook to an attachment 10 arranged on the ski at the front of thetoe-piece AV. The presence of this cord 4 pre-tenses the leaf spring tothe front of the ski imposing an inclination and a minimum force to beexerted at the beginning of flexion, while at the same time reducing themovement of the tibia to the rear.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, flexible tibia support part 5 can also be integratedin ski boot 14. The front of the support device comprises an attachmentpoint 13 for cord 4 and a swivel-pin 12, for example made of titanium,integrated in boot 14 for spring leaf 5. A fast-on attachment or buckle6 enables spring leaf 5 to be kept to the rear.

Deformable part 5 can advantageously be made from composite materials,in particular by moulding carbon fibre in an epoxy resin matrix, withenlargements at the level of the tibia and support points on the boot.The enlargements can also be made from thermoplastic materialintegrating the fast-on attachments and the strap pass-through loops.

According to another alternative embodiment, deformable part 5 can becomposed of elements able to slide and to be secured by screws to enablelength adjustment to suit the skier's height and boot size.

In off-track ski walking, the pair of mobile parts 5 or 15 is only usedwhen skiing downhill. When proceeding uphill, it is removed and placedin the rucksack.

1.-7. (canceled)
 8. A removable tibia support device for a skier, ableto be fitted on the skier's boot and comprising a retaining strapencircling the skier's leg and keeping the tibia in contact with asupport surface in the form of a padded cast, wherein the cast is fixedon a deformable part of small thickness shaped as a leaf of a leafspring pressing on the top of the boot, said leaf being laterally rigidand flexible towards the front with a spring effect.
 9. The removabletibia support device according to claim 8, wherein the deformable partcomprises an insert joined by a cord enabling said deformable part to bepre-tensioned towards the front.
 10. The removable tibia support deviceaccording to claim 8, wherein rubber strips are stuck under thedeformable part to protect it from wear against the rings of the bootand to prevent it from slipping.
 11. The removable tibia support deviceaccording to claim 8, wherein the deformable part is held on the top ofthe upper of the boot by at least one strap secured around the boot by afast-on attachment.
 12. The removable tibia support device according toclaim 8, wherein the end of the deformable part is articulated around apin integrated in the boot.
 13. The removable tibia support deviceaccording to claim 8, wherein the deformable part is composed ofelements that are able to slide and to be secured by screws to enablelength adjustment to suit the height and boot size of the skier.